Posing for Holiday Pictures

This year saw an astounding amount of new cameras hit the
market, some of which are perfect
for holiday parties.Undoubtedly,
there will be a camera or two at every party and soiree in the coming
weeks.There is a right way and a wrong
way to pose for holiday pictures.Whether you are hiring a professional to capture the best side of your
family for a Christmas card or gathering around the dinner table for a candid
full family portrait, be willing to branch out of the ordinary.Even if you aren't hiring a professional to
capture the moments rounding out the year 2010, cameras these days are advanced
enough that anybody can be a skilled photographer.Below are a few ways to take your holiday
pictures from festive to unforgettable.

Holiday pictures don't require a fancy-schmancy dSLR in
order for them to turn out frame or refrigerator worthy.Plenty of compact point-and-shoots out there
do a fine job compensating for lighting indiscretions, balancing color and even
adding some cute effects.If you have a
camera that does a lot of setting adjustments automatically, then find a good
setting that works for you.Indoor, Low
Light, Party, Candle and ISO Priority settings will compensate for all the
weird lights you can find.Holiday
lighting can be particularly frustrating to navigate with tree lights and the
sort.If you are a learned photographer
and have the knowhow when it comes to getting the settings right, then tweak
that ISO to your heart's content.Regardless of which camera is in use, avoid using the flash if at all
possible.Flash is what causes red eye;
while that is something that can be fixed post-production or even from within
your camera, flash can also show up in picture frame, mirrors, bouncing off
your subject's spectacles or causing general photographic chaos.When shooting pictures outdoors, the rules
above apply here too.Many cameras have
preset modes that work well with the out of doors.For instance, Portrait, Outdoor Scene or even
Snow can create some nice balanced shots.Find the setting that works for you and stick with it.Fumbling with modes and settings can cause
you to miss a great candid moment.

Capturing the Essence
of the Family

A family is a diverse and wonderful thing.Keep it natural, free-flowing and organized.Though that sounds a bit like an oxymoron,
you'll see what I mean.Tight groups of
people create their own framing.Plus,
people by themselves are interesting enough to look at.As you can see in the picture below,
photographer D. Jones crops out the scenery from the background and focuses on
the two men and their dog (http://www.djonesphoto.com/).Though this picture doesn't
scream CHRISTMASSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!, it
could still pass as a holiday shot.And
you don't have to rely on a professional to organize your family in this
way.Just get a few people (parents and
kids, only cousins, just the grandbabies, furry children) and have them sit on
a fairly neutral background.If a
not-so-distracting background isn't present, make sure to focus the camera only
on the faces so it blurs out the distractions.In D. Jones's picture below, though the
plantlife isn't in focus, you can still tell it is there.Imagine that one of those trees is your
Christmas tree.The hint of holiday will
be enough to tell the viewer it was Christmas.

Love Life Images does a great job of showcasing how
different angles can make the shot just right (Love
Life Images).In the picture
below, taking a bird's eye view approach to the subject keeps it fresh and
interesting.Again, you don't have to be
a professional to get such a cute picture.Fake your own studio.To
reproduce the image below, clear a space on the living room floor, lay out a
festive solid color sheet or blanket, wrap the baby in a scarf, blanket or
holiday themed outfit and take a few shots squatting on the couch.This doesn't apply just to babies and living
room floors however.Take the camera
outside and have the kids lay out in the grass below the back porch.Just as Love Life Images proves, a holiday
pictures doesn't have to be all green and red.A hint of holiday will suffice.

I'm not suggesting everyone don an embellished holiday
sweater, but I am suggesting you utilize this time to force everyone at the
party to wear a Santa hat.Holidays are
one of the only occasions where is it excusable and almost required that you
imbibe in the spirit of the season.As
you can see in the picture below, Luster Studios showcases how a prop can make
the shot (Luster Studio's website).Visit your local Dollar Store, pick up a few
props and create your own scene.As
stated before, a hint of holiday will do.There is no reason you have to be holding presents under the tree
wearing a Santa hat holding a banner wishing everyone a Happy New Year.Moderation is the best accessory.

The easiest way to look your best in holiday photos is to
dress sensibly, look natural and go with the flow.Solid colors always look good in photographs,
especially when there are decorations and busy backgrounds to compete
with.You want to stand out, not blend
in.If you do in fact pose straight on
for a camera, don't do it with your whole body.Turn slightly profile with your body while looking straight at the
camera.Keep your head held high.If you want to avoid the droopy chin look
(don't we all), push your tongue up to the roof of your mouth; doing so engages
the muscles in your neck keeping everything tight.Pushing your tongue up to the roof of your
mouth and up against the back of your top teeth will also ensure you don't
force a smile.It may be Forced Family
and Friend Fun, but it shouldn't look that way in pictures.

Maggie O'Briant recently graduated from Florida State University with an English Literature degree. She is currently a freelance writer and photographer. She currently lives in Hawaii with her husband and giant baby.